by Sean Highkin, USA TODAY Sports

by Sean Highkin, USA TODAY Sports

CHICAGO - When Chris Paul went down with a separated left shoulder Jan. 3, the Los Angeles Clippers' run at a top playoff seed looked to be in jeopardy. But without the six-time All-Star point guard, the Clippers have gone 8-3.

Part of their continued success is due to shooting guard J.J. Redick's return from a hand injury, but head coach Doc Rivers credits the full roster for adapting and evolving, transitioning from an offense run by an all-world point guard in Paul to one run by backup Darren Collison.

"You manage with what you have," Rivers said before Friday's 112-95 win against the Chicago Bulls. "You don't worry about positions. It'd be nice to have a point guard, a (shooting guard), a (small forward). Sometimes you can't worry about that.

"They're basketball players. You just have to put them in different spots and they'll figure it out. It's the schoolyard philosophy. They're just picking the five best and they'll figure it out from there. A lot of times you have to do that when you have injuries."

The improvement in the Clippers' starting frontcourt has been key to the team's continued success, particularly the playmaking ability of Blake Griffin. Long known for his iconic poster dunks, Griffin has developed into a versatile offensive player who is also gaining recognition for his passing and defense.

"He's very unselfish," veteran shooting guard Jamal Crawford said of Griffin. "When you have a superstar as unselfish as him, he commands so much attention. He makes people better."

"It's funny with Blake," Rivers added. "He wants the ball like any other scorer, but when Blake wants the ball, he doesn't necessarily want it to shoot. He wants the ball to make a play. He's one of those few stars who, when his number is called, he doesn't think it's his shot. He thinks it's the team's play. That's what makes him so good."

With Paul running the show, there was never a concern about players being set up in the right places, because Paul is one of the league's best passers. Without him, it's become more of an all-hands-on-deck operation.

"Losing your floor general, the guy who has the ball and is calling a lot of the offense, most of the game, it changes things offensively," Griffin said. "So we need everybody to be in the game, everybody to know play sets and everybody to know what we're trying to do offensively."

As quick as Rivers is to credit his players for persevering, the Clippers' biggest stars are eager to heap praise on their new coach. Rivers came to the Clippers from the Boston Celtics over the summer, where he won an NBA championship in 2008 and became one of the most respected coaches in the league. The players credit Rivers for the culture change around the Clippers organization, which has been a laughingstock for most of its existence.

"Doc is a next-play guy," center DeAndre Jordan said. "Whenever we do make a mistake, he forgets about it before we do, and that's big coming from the top."

Jordan's improvement is another key to the Clippers' success without Paul. Like Griffin, Jordan used to be known for big dunks, and his defensive impact was measured more in highlight blocks than rim protection. But he's improved considerably as a defender under Rivers, with the coach making the case that Jordan should get All-Star consideration.

"He's the best defender in the league in my opinion," Rivers said. "One of the best rebounders. He intimidates, he changes the game."

It is unknown whether Paul will return before the All-Star break, but the play of the team in his absence is encouraging for their playoff prospects. As Rivers pointed out when he took the job this summer, the Clippers haven't accomplished anything yet. And now, he wants no extra credit for their ability to get by without Paul.

"That's what a team does," he said. "You put somebody else in and they step up for you."